Hike #475; Warren Railroad

 Hike #475 3/21/10

Portland-Colombia Footbridge

3/21/10 Warren Railroad/Portland to Washington with Kyle Zalinsky, Amanda Rosenblatt, Jillane Becker, Scott "Tea Biscuit" Helbing, Amanda Lance, Al MacLennan, Dana Miscia, Chris Kroschinski, Ron Phelps, Wayne Meiner, Eric Pace, Steve Rogers, Christian Davido, Paige Foley, Shelly Janes, Bijal Shah, Jason Itell, Larry Butler, Brad Baesic, Bill "Guillermo" Fabel, "Action Adam" Stevens, Russ "Lord Byron" Rapp, Ron Lozowski,

Once again, it was time for my annual Portland to Washington Hike, now thirteen years since I started this craziness!

On this occasion we nearly had the largest group ever on one of my hikes.

After meeting at Port Colden Mall, we shuttled as few cars as possible to the Portland-Colombia Footbridge. Along the way, we stopped to drop off a car in Buttsville, and when I got out Kyle jumped in my car and drove off! I hopped in another and we were on our way.

We regrouped in Colombia, and I was happily wearing my new pink "HELBING 13" shirt Carol had made for me. We all got on the footbridge for a beginning group shot, and Kyle and Cupcake hung from the side of the girders of the bridge. The pipe they were holding onto almost gave out, and Kyle commented "That would've been bad, we would have had a dead dolphin and a smooshed Cupcake!".

We crossed the bridge, payed our respects to Ron short, and then continued to Port Mart for chocolate milk. We then headed south along the tracks.

When we reached the Delaware Trestle, everything seemed to be going normally until we got to the other side. This time, the fill on the opposite side had been completely removed fora bit, and we had to climb down the abutments to get off of the bridge.

Climbing off the Delaware Trestle

I was nervous about this; I helped a few down and then we ran ahead while others helped each other get off of the bridge before anyone of law enforcement disposition saw us.

Climbing from the Delaware Trestle

We crossed Rt 46 and paralleled it into the town of Delaware as always.

In Delaware, NJ

I think Tea Biscuit and Amanda stayed behind and got ice cream or something because they fell behind a bit. We all stopped for our group picture at the bridge abutment, then went to Smiddy's deli and liquor store. We got food and drinks and saw the new pavilian at the site under construction.

New construction of a pavilian at Smiddy's, Delaware NJ

As we continued on the old brick house that was once the home to my great grandmother had been completely demolished. It was weird to see it gone.

We continued on to the south, and I think most of the group went up to do the shrub of Might activity.

Because the original journal for this one was lost, I don't know the official times, but I know I beat my personal top record getting to the top of the Shrub of Might, and Kyle beat me by about two tenths of a second. I'd already drank a Four Loco or two at this point and wasn't at my best, but regardless, I beat my record and Kyle beat that, so that's pretty good.

We continued from here through Ramseyburg and across the road, then onward along the long stretch to Manunka Chunk Tunnel. Once we reached the mouth of the tunnel, I instructed part of the group on how to go over the top while the rest of us went on through the westernmost portal. This time I'd carried candles in my pack to hand out to everyone going through. It was really cool to do the entire tunnel by candlelight. Carol wore rubber boots but they were already filled with water anyway.

In Manunka Chunk Tunnel

On the other side we regrouped and then followed the farm roads out to Upper Sarepta Road. At the road, when we took another little break a guy pulled up in his SUV. As it turned out, he knew me from my forums on the Weird NJ website, though I'd never met him! So strange! We continued on through the next section which was easier than it had been in the past couple years, then crossed Sarepta Road onto the wide easy section.

We continued on across Hope Crossing Road to Bridgeville without incident, and I think some of the group decided to go right and walk the highway out to Hot Dog Johnny's...they usually do. The rest of us continued out toward the sand quarry. No one of course was working and so we continued across easily.

Farm near Bridgeville

Crossing the sand quarry, Bridgeville

We were still easily able to go through the section beyond the sand pit, which was now turning into a young growth forest a bit. We went around the giant pile of junk and the old house site back to where it was a walkeable ATV path.

Kyle at an old house ruin near Buttsville

When we reached Hot Dog Johnny's we had our usual lunch break. DJ Ray, Kyle, and I all decided to be crazy and jump into the Pequest River. It was all fun till Kyle cut his foot very badly on a piece of glass. His toe was cut open badly and bleeding.

Kyle after cutting his foot in the Pequest

Scrambling to take care of Kyle's cut toe

We hurried to bandage him up, and somehow, I don't know who, brought him and Amanda out of there.I think we had a car left in Buttsville, that must have been how.

Kyle bids us farewell from the hike

It was sad to have Kyle off the hike, he was always such great entertainment. I'm sure he was self medicating himself for this injury, and I sometimes wonder if this could have been part of what led to the heavier drug abuse that was to follow, but we'll never know.

On the rail bed above Hot Dog Johnny's

We were joined at this point by our friends Steve Rogers and Christian Davido.

We continued back to the rail bed and headed to Buttsville and continued on across Rt 46 near the intersection of Rt 31.

Section of former Warren Railroad in Buttsville

Here, our friend Paige Foley joined us as well.

We ascended to the rail bed on the Pequest Viaduct and continued.

Warren Railroad in Pequest WMA

We travelled through the more secluded and wooded section through Pequest Wildlife Management Area and then out through Pequest Cut. Soon, we went under a utility line and out to Pequest Road where we crossed, went right, then left again onto the paved trail section. This took us through the fields and then into the wooded section.

Trail section of the Warren Railroad on the north end of Oxford

We stopped here for a bit to swing on the vines as we'd done so many times in the past.

DJ Ray broke the vine he was swinging on

We continued on the trail section to Lower Denmark Road and then paralleled the rail bed on the road. Soon enough the railroad comes back to where the road was built over it at the former Oxford Station site where only the platform remains.

Rail bed with Lower Denmark Road built over it.

Oxford Station site on Lower Denmark Road

At the Oxford Station Site on Lower Denmark Road

Booty Masta P Fo Hollaback

We continued along the road into Oxford and then took a little side trip out toward Rt 31 where we made a stop at the liquor store. I bought a couple things, including a Smirnoff dark thing of some sort.

Liquor store stop in Oxford

Break at Oxford Liquor store

Some of the group left us here, though I don't remember which ones, then we headed north to Axford Avenue where we split the group again. Some went over the tunnel on the highway while the rest went through. This was actually one of the largest groups I'd ever gotten to agree to the tunnel!

It was mucky on the approach to the tunnel, and Jillane and I went way ahead of the rest of the group. We had to wait a while for the others to trudge through all of the tunnel muck.

Mucky approach to Oxford Tunnel

Mucky approach to Oxford Tunnel

North Portal of Oxford (Van Nest Gap) Tunnel

When they arrived Jillane and I went first and again got way ahead. The first section of the tunnel was still a mess of suction silt that makes walking very difficult.

In Oxford Tunnel

Jillane and I stayed ahead, and stopped to have a look at the little side tunnel about mid way through. Also, the raft in the tunnel had deteriorated to barely anything compared to how it was over a decade before.

My lovely Jillane up to over her knees in Oxford Tunnel muck

In Oxford Tunnel

I think some of the group came into the tunnel from the other end to meet us, but some of the group also grew tired of waiting and decided to go ahead of us. This proved to be bad because somehow (I don't know how) they managed to turn off the obvious grade of the railroad and go out through the fields. They somehow ended up back on Rt 31 after doing significantly more distance than they needed to.

South side of Oxford (Van Nest Gap) Tunnel

The rest of us didn't take long to get moving. We followed the rail bed south through woods and farm lands out to Jackson Valley Road. Here somehow Paige had gotten to her car (she lives just down Jackson Valley) and come back to pick up more than the suggested number of people should be in her car!

The rest of us continued on across Jackson Valley Road and up on the other side to the seasonally wet section. It was indeed wet, but could have been worse. It was getting pretty dark but those remaining in the group were still in high spirits, having a really good time.

After a cut, we came out behind the old lumber yard in Washington that had recently closed down for good. We then came to the active spur line and headed out across Rt 31 and 57 into the Washington rail yard.

The group along the tracks at Washington rail yard

We turned down where the paths used to be that took us out behind the Warren Plaza, but now it had all been cleared for the new condos that were going in, but at this point had been stalled for some time. We crossed the lot and headed to Family's Pizza for dinner, closing out the day.

Old bridge abutment group shot in Delaware NJ